Municipalities

Scientific Name

Leptospermum lanigerum

Family Name

MYRTACEAE

Common Name

Woolly Tea-tree

Status

Height

3.0m - 6.0m (300-600cm)

Flowers

Creamy-white, solitary, c.18mm in diameter.

Fruit

Woody capsule

Form

Erect, dense tall shrub or small tree. More typically a shrub than a tree.

Municipalities

Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Sorell; Southern Midlands; Tasman; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast; West Tamar

Communities

Coastal Vegetation; Montane Vegetation; Riparian; Wet Eucalypt Forest

Habitat Notes

Widespread and abundant. Very hardy. Wide range of soil from acidic to strongly alkaline. Occurs in both ill-drained and well-drained sites on moderately fertile soils in areas of high rainfall.

Site Tolerance

Exposed; Moist; Shady; Waterlogged; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

Clay; Fertile; Loam; Poor; Poorly-drained; Sandy; Well-drained

General Notes

Useful for providing low-level shelter (up to 6m) in mixed species windbreaks. Also useful in gully erosion control as the fibrous roots help stabilise the soil, and the branches can produce roots when they are in contact with moist soil. The flowers attract insects and many nectar feeding birds. Koori (mainland) use: The stems were used to make implements such as pegs for kangaroo skins, hunting spears and eel spears.Resistant to wildlife browsing due to its unpalatability. Not suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

When ripe capsules are button-shaped grey-brown, and have defined valves at the top. seeds are tiny, brownish "slivers" 1mm x 2mm

Seed Treatment Method

Standard

Seed Storage Life

Long

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Seeds collected throughout the year. Seeds only released when the plant meets with adversity such as injury, drought or fire.Collect seed from older wood.Very tiny seeds need to be kept quite moist during germination.Smoke treatment may improve germination.

Germination Time

2-4 weeks

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Yes

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

3-4 weeks

Expected Time to Plant Out

5 months

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

From tip cuttings. To determine whether material is suitable for cuttings, bend it at right angles. If it springs back into position it is probably suitable.